The election year has ended, but the debates continue. And one of the most controversial issues is the role of religion in government. The Hare Krsna movement takes no side in the political battle, but it can offer thoughtful advice to help solve a complex problem.
For nearly two hundred years, the U.S. Congress has begun its daily deliberations with prayer. Out of 100 Senators, perhaps five show up each morning. Of those who do show up, virtually none come for the prayer.
The year of a United States presidential election always brings intense campaigning and debating, out of which we are supposed to choose our favorite candidate. But for many of us, election time also raises the question of whether a real choice exists.
Where we speak of universal brotherhood it must comprehend all brothers and not such brothers and allies as are accepted by the politician who have always some design of self-interest.
We met the other day the founder of one human welfare society and we have been pleased to see the plan. And we suggested a little more improvement on it by the method of keeping all the items of plans etc. in touch with the plannings of Bhagwat Geeta.
Godless leaders do pose themselves as very much thoughtful but the range of such thoughts cannot transcend the limits of sense gratification. Such attitude of thoughtfulness in an immeasurable way-cannot help them solving the problems of life.
Advancement of India’s freedom movement was started by some great men like Shri Aurovindo and Mahatma Gandhi. But these gentlemen got all their inspiration from Bhagwat Gita.
A “briefing book” drawn up to help President Carter prepare for his 1980 campaign debate with Ronald Reagan allegedly found its way to the opposing camp.
Srila Prabhupada has likened the accomplishments of technological man to zeroes, which have no value. A million zeroes all added together amount to nothing. It is only when a number—1, for example—is added to the left that the zeroes become substantial.
There are sufficient resources in the world to support the human community. And, as we go into 1969 with all our schemes for the relief of poverty and suffering, we may also ask what “rich” means, what “poor” means, what “happy” means, what “wretched” means…
As Marx observed, when we deny God is the ultimate proprietor, master, and friend, the powers and privileges normally recognized as His are up for grabs. And they are grabbed by men who use the advantages of absolute power for their own corrupt, selfish purposes.
Americans of late—and most especially since the assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy—have taken to scouring their consciences to determine if the U.S. is really as violence-ridden as it seems to be.
Nature, as Darwin pointed out, imposes an unpitying competition of her own upon all beings within her grasp. Therefore even the socialist, even the pacifist must kill to prolong his life, must inflict pain on someone or something (like cattle or chickens) to secure his own pleasure.
Modern history is full of liberation movements. Even the American revolution and the formation of the American nation can be seen as a type of liberation movement that signaled the eventual collapse of European colonialism.
The trouble with elections is they give us the sensation things have changed because our representatives have changed. Year after year, century after century, institutions, administrations and world leaders come and go while the common never gets what he wants: satisfaction.
There are many international societies, such as the United Nations. So the idea of an international society is very nice, but we must try to understand what the central idea of an international society should be.
Nationalism demands that we abandon our real spiritual identity and instead fight like dogs and cats. Since conflicts of interest between nations are endless, nationalism can never be the basis of lasting peace, which must stand on a superior awareness of the oneness of all life.
Complained one young worker in a recent letter to Time: “First they sent us to Vietnam. Now they want $3,000 a year [from me] in Social Security taxes to finance their Winnebagos and European vacations.”
Historically, men have chosen to sacrifice individual autonomy for the benefits of life within human society. Nations, communities, tribes, communes—all attest to the truth of John Donne’s famous adage: “No man is an island.”
From time to time God incarnates on earth to impart His instructions and enact His pastimes. One incarnation is Lord Ramacandra, who appeared in India millions of years ago as the ideal king. His purpose was to teach us perfect government—God-centered government.